"Trump missed a huge opportunity," he told host J.D. Hayworth on the "Newsmax TV Post-Debate Special." "Cruz consolidated himself as the front-runner.

"Rubio was exposed on the immigration issue — and Trump essentially let the world proceed without him," he said. "The question I'm wondering is why did Trump do this? He's not stupid. Why did he let this debate happen without him?

"The only answer I can come up with is that he was afraid to be asked a question about abortion because he's been hit hard with that — and he really doesn't have an answer on that."